2007 is the last year for the Mercury Montego; next year it will be reborn with a new engine, new styling, and a new (old) name: Mercury Sable. Does that mean you should put off purchasing the Mercury Montego until after its metamorphosis? Not necessarily. Read on for more about the Montego's charms. $24,600 base, $33,405 as tested, EPA fuel economy estimates 19-21 city, 26-29 highway.
First glance: Changes are a-comin'
Larger exterior photos: Front side rearThere's been a lot of talk on the About.com Cars blog about the Montego and its upcoming name change (the Montego will become the Sable in 2008, just as its mechanical twin, the Ford Five Hundred, will become the Ford Taurus). The general consensus seems to be that a name change isn't going to help if the Montego's just a mediocre car.
That's a point I agree with -- but after spending a few days and a few hundred miles with the Montego, I don't think it's a mediocre car. It's a good car. Not a great car, not a class-leading car, but definitely a car that competes well against the big players in the large wannabe-luxury class: Toyota Avalon, Hyundai Azera, Chrysler 300 and Buick Lucerne.
The Montego doesn't have the visual impact of the 300 or the Avalon. It’s a very conservative shape marked by forgettable details. Part of Ford's plan for Mercury is to establish a stronger brand identity, and next year's Sable transformation will include some detail changes, but the basic profile (link goes to photo) stays the same.
Continued below…
In the Driver's Seat: The whole is better than the sum of its parts
I liked the Sable's interior, which came as a pleasant surprise; I normally don't go for all-black cabins, though the substantial use of dark-wood trim definitely spruced it up (no pun intended). Another pet peeve of mine is overly-button-happy secondary controls, and here the Montego is guilty. Still, most of the buttons are well marked. I particularly liked dual zone climate control's temperature selection: Nice big buttons with blue and red stripes. Would if the fan control buttons were as easy to find and use. Stereo controls were integrated with my test car's $1,995 touch-screen navigation system. This is one of my favorite systems, as it attempts to pronounce the street names ("Turn left on Riverside Drive" instead of just "Turn left ahead").
Heated, power-adjustable and leather-covered front seats are standard on the top-of-the-line Premier model I drove. They are comfortable and the upright driving position makes visibility excellent. Alas, the driving position is flawed: I was either too close to the pedals or too far away from the steering wheel -- this despite the Montego's power-adjustable pedals. I had them all the way forward and it still wasn't enough.
The Montego has a cavernous back seat; even with the front seats all the way back there's plenty of legroom. But there's no headrest for the center position. The trunk is huge, and both the back seats and front passenger seat fold down for more space. My test car had an optional trunk organizer with hidden storage and nets for grocery bags, a nice idea but pricey at $200.
On the Road: Just what you need, but no more
I've never agreed with all the criticism leveled at the Montego's 203 horsepower 3-liter V6 engine, and this most recent test drive hasn't changed my mind. The horsepower and torque (207 lb-ft) numbers are deceiving, because the Montego is available with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that allows the car to make use of all that power at any time, something conventional transmissions can't do. The Montego doesn't have an excess of power; it has just enough. Yes, you'll have to put your foot to the floor for on steep hills and short on-ramps, but the Montego has no problem keeping up with traffic. And my test-week fuel economy average of 21.7 MPG was decent considering the Mongeto's bulk.Not that it matters; the nay-sayers will get their way in 2008, when the car gets a 260 horsepower 3.5 liter V6. I'm sure the extra power will be nice to have, but I'll miss the CVT; 2007 is the last year for this brilliant transmission.
The Montego is a bit too big to be serious fun on curvy roads, but it grips the pavement surprisingly well and responds to the helm promptly and predictably. I'm sure more than a few of you are reading this and saying "Who cares?" Well, when a car suddenly pulls out in front of you, you'll care. The Montego may not be designed for thrills, but it is designed to react sharply in an emergency situation, and my test car's all-wheel-drive ensures that the Mercury's grip will keep up when the weather turns lousy. Other notable notes: The Montego has lots of airbags, which is good, and quite a bit of wind noise, which is bad.
Journey's End: I like you just the way you are... sort of
Other choices in the market include the Buick Lucerne, a very nice (and oft-overlooked) car that offers optional V8 power. The Toyota Avalon is more luxurious, while the Hyundai Azera boasts lots of gadgets and a lower price. And then there's the rear-wheel-drive Chrysler 300 -- it trounces the Montego on styling, though build quality isn't the best.
Would I buy the Mercury Montego? You know, if I was looking for a big sedan, I just might. The Montego is comfortable, it grips the road securely, and it's unique, if a bit anonymous. It handles safely and the CVT is a great alternative to a conventional automatic. Ford is counting on a new engine and a new name to boost the Montego's popularity. That wouldn't help much if the car wasn't decent to begin with -- but it is, and I think the new Sable will do quite well. Meanwhile, the existing Montego is still worth a look. -- Aaron Gold
Next page: Pros and cons, who should buy it, specs and best rivals
